Biochemical container

ABSTRACT

In order to provide a biochemical vessel suitable for use in effective cell culture, precision analysis, etc., in a biochemical vessel comprising a plate-like body defining a plurality of through holes along a thickness thereof, and a substrate bonded to one face of the plate-like body via an adhesive, the substrate integrally forms projections which engage with edges of the respective through holes around the entire peripheries thereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vessel for biochemical use, includinga plate-like body defining a plurality of through holes along athickness thereof, and a substrate bonded to one face of the plate-likebody via an adhesive.

BACKGROUND ART

In the biochemical vessel of the above-noted type (e.g. a microplate),by closing the respective through holes of the plate-like body with thesubstrate bonded to one face of the body, there are formed a pluralityof sample receiving portions. Hence, such vessel is often employed infields requiring culture, analysis or the like of a number samples, suchas cell culture, DNA analysis, etc.

With the conventional biochemical vessel, one side of the plate-likebody is bonded to a flat face of the substrate via an adhesive. Whenbonding the plate-like body to the substrate via the adhesive, if anyexcess unhardened adhesive enters the sample receiving portion andbecomes hardens therein, this hardened adhesive may be dissolved into aculture solution, an analysis solution, etc, thereby to interfere witheffective cell culture or precision analysis.

Further, in case the substrate is formed of an ultraviolet transparentglass (e.g. natural quartz glass, synthetic quartz glass, borosilicateglass, etc.) so as to allow spectrometry of sample by causing visiblemean, ultraviolet beam, or X-ray beam to impinge on the bottom face ofthe sample receiving portion, such adhesive entered the sample receivingportion and hardened therein may prevent precision spectrometry.

In view of the above, conventionally, between adjacent through holes ofthe plate-like body, drain holes are formed through in advance in thebonding faces of the plate-like body and the substrate. Then, whenunhardened adhesive in the form of liquid is applied to the bonding faceof the plate-like body oriented upward and then the flat face of thesubstrate is placed on the bonding face applied with the adhesive, anyexcess unhardened adhesive is allowed to flow into the drain holes,thereby to prevent intrusion of unhardened adhesive into the samplereceiving portions (see e.g. Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application “Kokai” No. 2002-125656.

With the conventional biochemical vessel described above, since thedrain holes are formed through the portions of the plate-like bodybetween adjacent through holes thereof, any excess unhardened adhesivecan easily flow into the drain holes. This construction cannot yeteffectively prevent flowing of unhardened adhesive into the samplereceiving portions in that the excess unhardened adhesive can easilyflow into the sample receiving portions, so that effective cell cultureor precision analysis can still be hindered thereby.

In addition, in case it is necessary to provide the bottom of the samplereceiving portion with optical transparency, a substrate having lighttransparent bottom will be fixedly bonded to one face of the plate-likebody having a plurality of through holes. Hence, if the substrate isformed in a mold, in order to increase the light transmittance, it isneeded to polish the inner face of the bottom of each sample receivingportion. However, it is difficult to efficiently polish only suchportion corresponding to each sample receiving portion of the substrate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described stateof the art. An object of the invention is to provide a biochemicalvessel suitable for effective cell culture, precision analysis, etc, andalso to facilitate efficient polishing of the inner face of the bottomof each sample receiving portion in case the bottom of the samplereceiving portion needs to have optical transparency.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the first characterizing feature of the present invention,a biochemical vessel comprising a plate-like body defining a pluralityof through holes along a thickness thereof, and a substrate bonded toone face of the plate-like body via an adhesive, characterized in thatsaid substrate integrally forms projections which engage with edges ofthe respective through holes around the entire peripheries thereof.

With the above, with the engagement of the projections formed integrallyon the substrate with the edges of the plurality of through holes alongthe entire peripheries thereof, the one face of the plate-like bodydefining the through holes is bonded to the substrate with adhesive.Hence, when the plate-like body and the substrate are bonded to eachother via the adhesive, the edges of the through holes are closed by theprojections engaging with these edges. Therefore, it is possible toeffectively prevent intrusion of excess unhardened adhesive into thesample receiving portions. Further, as there hardly exists the risk ofintrusion and subsequent hardening of the unhardened adhesive in thesample receiving portions, it has become possible to provide abiochemical vessel suitable for effective cell culture, precisionanalysis, etc.

Moreover, as the projections for engaging with the edges of the throughholes along the entire peripheries thereof are formed integrally on thesubstrate, in applying the unhardened adhesive, the substrate will beheld with its bonding face oriented upward so that the projections mayproject upwardly from the bonding face of the substrate to be bonded tothe plate-like body and under this condition, the unhardened adhesivecan be applied to the bonding face of the substrate. With this, theunhardened adhesive can be easily applied so as not to go beyond thebonding area. As a result, the intrusion of unhardened adhesive into thesample receiving portions can be effectively avoided, thus furtherreducing the risk of intrusion and subsequent hardening of unhardenedadhesive into the sample receiving portions. Therefore, it has becomepossible to provide a biochemical vessel suitable for effective cellculture, precision analysis, etc.

Furthermore, as the inner face of the bottom of the sample receivingportion is constituted by the top surface of the projection formedintegrally on the substrate, when it is needed to provide the bottom ofthe sample receiving portion with light transmittance, the top surfaceof the projection alone can be readily polished, prior to the bonding ofthe plate-like body to the substrate. Thus, it is readily possible topolish efficiently the inner face of the bottom of each sample receivingportion as a small polishing area.

According to the second characterizing feature of the present invention,a cavity is formed at least in one of the bonding face of the plate-likebody and the bonding face of the substrate, thereby to form a gapbetween the plate-like body and the substrate.

With the above, when the plate-like body and the substrate are bonded toeach other via the adhesive, excess unhardened adhesive can readily flowinto the gap formed between the plate-like body and the substrate. As aresult, the plate-like body and the substrate can be readily bondedfirmly to each other, while preventing intrusion of unhardened adhesiveinto the sample receiving portions. Hence, it is possible to provide abiochemical vessel having high durability.

According to the third characterizing feature of the invention, saidcavity is formed as an annulus surrounding an area where the pluralityof through holes are formed.

As the cavity is formed as an annulus surrounding an area where theplurality of through holes are formed, even if excess unhardenedadhesive flows into the gap between the plate-like body and thesubstrate, there hardly exists the risk of such adhesive flowing beyondthe lateral faces of the biochemical vessel from the bonded faces of theplate-like body and the substrate. Accordingly, it becomes easy toensure dimension precision in the biochemical vessel. Therefore, it ispossible to increase handling precision of the vessel by an automaticdetermining device such as e.g. the microplate reader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a biochemical vessel,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view of principal portions,

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a manufacturing method,

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a biochemical vesselaccording to a second embodiment,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view of principal portions,

FIG. 6 (a) is a plan view of the biochemical vessel according to thesecond embodiment, FIG. 6 (b) being a perspective view showing a bottomface of principal portions of the second embodiment, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section view of principal portions of a thirdembodiment.

BEST MODE OF EMBODYING THE INVENTION

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3 show a biochemical vessel constructed such that one face of aplate-like body A defining a plurality of through holes 1 extendingthrough the thickness thereof is boned to a rectangular glass substrateB via an adhesive C so as to close one side of each through hole 1 withthe glass substrate B, thus forming a plurality of sample receivingportions (cells) D having light transparent bottoms.

The plate-like body A is formed of an inorganic material such as variousglass materials, e.g. soda lime glass, various ceramic materials,various metals etc. to be substantially same dimensions, in plan view,as the glass substrate B, with the plurality of through holes 1 beingdefined through the thickness thereof. Instead, the plate-like body canbe formed of any of various types of synthetic resins having ultraviolettransparency, such as polystyrene resin.

Each through hole 1, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a tapered innerperipheral face 3 in the form of a truncated cone tapered toward abonding face 2A to be bonded to the glass substrate B, and a cylindricalinner peripheral face 4 of a substantially fixed inner diameter andextending continuously to the edge of the bonding face 2A of the taperedinner peripheral face 3.

The glass substrate B is formed of a glass having ultraviolettransparency suitable for ultraviolet spectrometry, having a highultraviolet transmittance of 80% or more, such as natural quartz glass,synthetic quartz glass, borosilicate glass, etc. A bonding face 2B ofthe substrate to be bonded to the plate-like body A integrally forms anumber of projections 5 which engage with the cylindrical innerperipheral faces 4 of the respective through holes 1 around the entireperipheries thereof. Then, as these projections 5 are caused to engagewith the cylindrical inner peripheral faces 4 of the respective throughholes 1 around the entire peripheries thereof, the one face of theplate-like body A is bonded to the glass substrate B via the adhesive C.

Each projection 5 is formed like a column which has a substantially sameouter diameter as the inner diameter of the cylindrical inner peripheralface 4 and also has a substantially same height as the length of thecylindrical inner peripheral face 4.

Incidentally, the glass substrate B can be formed of an ultraviolettransparent glass (e.g. PH160 available from Phillips Inc.) having avery high transmission factor of 85% or more for ultraviolet beam of 230nm˜300 nm, thus very suitable for ultraviolet spectrometry.

The adhesive C employed comprises an inorganic adhesive such as alow-melting point glass, a metal solder, etc. Hence, this isadvantageous in that the adhesive C will not be dissolved into anorganic solvent (e.g. isooctane) which may be received in the samplereceiving portion D for the purpose of e.g. genetic analysis. Instead,however, an organic adhesive can also be employed.

Referring to a manufacturing method of the biochemical vessel describedabove, the top surfaces of the projections 5 of the glass substrate Bwill be polished in advance. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, this glasssubstrate B will be held with its bonding face 2B oriented upward and tothis bonding face 2B, unhardened adhesive C1 (C) in the form of liquidwill be applied. Thereafter, the plate-like body A will be placed overthe glass substrate B in such a manner that the cylindrical innerperipheral faces 4 of the respective through holes 1 may engage therespective projections 5, then allowing the unhardened adhesive C1 toharden. With this, the plate-like body A and the glass substrate B willbe bonded to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

As described above, when the unhardened adhesive C1 in the form ofliquid is applied to the bonding face 2B, the bonding face 2B of theglass substrate B is kept oriented upward. This reduces the risk of anyunhardened adhesive C1 flowing to the top of the projection 5constituting the bottom of each sample receiving portion D. And, just anecessary amount of unhardened adhesive C1 can be readily applied to thebonding face 2B. Further, when the plate-like body A is placed over theglass substrate B, the lower end of each through hole 1 is closed by theprojection 5. Hence, intrusion of excess unhardened adhesive C1 into thesample receiving portion D can be effectively prevented.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 4 through 6 show a further embodiment of the biochemical vessel.In this, of the bonding faces 2A, 2B of the plate-like body A and theglass substrate B, the bonding face on the side of the plate-like body Adefines, along the outer peripheral edge of the plate-like body A, anannular cavity 6 in the form of a groove surrounding the area where theplurality of through holes 1 are formed. Further, a grating-like cavity7 surrounding each through hole 1 like a grating is formed in such amanner that ends of the cavity 7 converge and communicate with theannular cavity 6. With these, between the plate-like body A and theglass substrate B, there is formed a gap 8 communicating continuously.

Therefore, when the plate-like body A and the glass substrate B arebonded to each other via the adhesive C, any excess unhardened adhesiveC1 (C) can readily flow into the gap 8. As a result, the plate-like bodyA and the glass substrate B can be readily bonded firmly to each other,while preventing intrusion of unhardened adhesive C1 into the samplereceiving portions. Further, there hardly exists the risk of suchunhardened adhesive C1 flowing beyond the lateral faces of thebiochemical vessel from the bonded faces 2A, 2B of the plate-like body Aand the glass substrate B. Accordingly, the dimensional precision of thebiochemical vessel can be ensured easily.

Incidentally, the annular cavity 6 and the grating-like cavity 7 can beformed in the bonding face 2B of the glass substrate B to be bonded tothe bonding face 2A of the plate-like body A. Or, these cavities may beformed in both of these bonding faces 2A, 2B. Further, a cavity 6forming each through hole 1 in the form of an annulus can be formed inat least one of the bonding faces 2A, 2B of the plate-like body A andthe glass substrate B.

The rest of the construction is identical to that of the firstembodiment.

THIRD EMBODIMENT

FIG. 7 shows a still further embodiment of the biochemical vessel. Inthis, in the opposite face of the glass substrate B away from itsbonding face 2B to be bonded to the plate-like body A, there areintegrally formed a plurality of convex face portions 9 in the form ofcolumns, at positions corresponding to the portions where the respectiveprojections 5 are formed, so that top surfaces of the convex faceportions 9 constitute outer faces of the bottoms of the sample receivingportions D. With this, in addition to the inner faces of the bottoms ofthe sample receiving portions D, the outer faces of their bottoms toocan be polished in an efficient manner as small limited areas to bepolished.

Further, along a lower outer peripheral portion of the glass substrateB, there is integrally formed a spacer 10 in the form of an annulusprojecting downwardly of the convex face portions 9, thereby to preventdamage to the outer faces of the bottoms of the sample receivingportions D.

The rest of the construction is identical to that of the firstembodiment.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

1. In the biochemical vessel according to the present invention, aring-like projection engaging the edge of the through hole along theentire periphery thereof may be formed integrally on the substrate.

2. In the biochemical vessel of the invention defined in claim 2, atleast one of the bonding faces of the plate-like body and the substratecan define an intermittent cavity, thus forming an intermittent cavitybetween the plate-like body and the substrate.

3. In the biochemical vessel of the invention defined in claim 2, atleast one of the bonding faces of the plate-like body and the substratecan device a cavity extending to the edge of the bonding face, so as toform, between the plate-like body and the substrate, a gap open to thelateral face of the biochemical vessel.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention may be employed in fields requiring culture, analysis orthe like of a number samples, such as cell culture, DNA analysis, etc.

1-3. (canceled)
 4. A biochemical vessel comprising a plate-like bodyhaving a plurality of through holes along a thickness thereof, and asubstrate (B) bonded to one face of the plate-like body via an adhesive,said substrate integrally forms projections which engage with edges ofthe respective through holes around the entire peripheries thereof. 5.The biochemical vessel of claim 4, wherein a cavity is formed in atleast one of the bonding face of the plate-like body and the bondingface of the substrate, thereby to form a gap between the plate-like bodyand the substrate.
 6. The biochemical vessel of claim 5, wherein saidcavity is formed as an annulus surrounding an area where the pluralityof through holes are formed.